Influence of Ce codoping and H2 pre-loading on Er/Yb-doped fiber: Radiation response characterized by Confocal Micro-Luminescence

Confocal microscopy luminescence measurements were applied to study the X-ray radiation response of Er/Yb-doped optical fibers in connection with H₂ pre-loading and with the addition of another lanthanide element (Cerium) in the core composition. Laser excitations at 488 nm and 325 nm allow deriving the emission and absorption pattern of Er³⁺, the latter derived from the dips appearing in a wide luminescence band related to defects in silica. We found that the luminescence spectrum of the X-irradiated Er/Yb-doped core fiber evidences an increase in the emission intensity around 520 and 660 nm; in contrast, no changes are induced by radiation neither after H₂ pre-loading nor when the Cerium is added to the core composition. Both treatments reduce the generation of defects in the Er-doped fibers thus providing hardness in the radiative environment.     

Feasibility of radiation dosimetry with phosphorus-doped optical fibers in the ultraviolet and visible domain

We investigated the feasibility of using phosphorus-doped optical fibers to monitor the levels of deposited dose during an irradiation. For this, we characterized their spectral and time dependence of the steady state 10 keV X-ray radiation-induced attenuation in the ultraviolet and visible range of wavelengths (200 nm–900 nm). Their radiation sensitivity is very high with losses exceeding 10 dB m^?1 for doses larger than 10 Gy and wavelengths shorter than 550 nm. Our results reveal a sub linear dose dependence of the induced losses that also depends on the dose rate (1 Gy s^?1–50 Gy s^?1) between 350 nm and 900 nm. For this spectral domain, excess of attenuation is due to the phosphorus oxygen-hole centers. P₂ defects are responsible for the induced losses around 300 nm that linearly increase with the dose at least until 1 kGy and without dose rate effect. We measured no noticeable influence of the temperature (5 °C–50 °C) on the radiation-induced attenuation in the studied spectral domain. Our study shows that dosimetry with phosphorus-doped fibers seems possible in the ultraviolet (around 300 nm) with a sensitivity enhanced by a factor > 100 compared to the one observed in the infrared region (> 900 nm).     

Femtosecond spectral electric field reconstruction using coherent transients

We have implemented a new approach for measuring the time-dependent intensity and phase of ultrashort optical pulses. It is based on the interaction between shaped pulses and atoms, leading to coherent transients.     

The Weierstrass Subgroup of a Curve has Maximal Rank

We show that the Weierstrass points of the generic curve ofgenus g over an algebraically closed field of characteristic0 generate a group of maximal rank in the Jacobian. 2000 MathematicsSubject Classification 11G30, 14H40, 14H10, 14H55, 14Q05.     

Adhesion of Human U937 Monocytes to Nitrogen‐Rich Organic Thin Films: Novel Insights into the Mechanism of Cellular Adhesion

We present a two‐fold study designed to elucidate the adhesion mechanism of human U937 monocytes on novel N‐rich thin films deposited by plasma‐ and VUV photo‐polymerisation, so‐called “PVP:N” materials. It is shown that there exist sharply‐defined (“critical”) surface‐chemical conditions that are necessary to induce cell adhesion. By comparing the film chemistries at the “critical” conditions, we demonstrate the dominant role of primary amines in the cell adhesion mechanism. Quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR experiments using U937 cells that had adhered to PVP:N materials for up to 24 h are presented. The adhesion induces a transient expression of cytokines, markers of macrophage activation, as well as a more sustained expression of PPARγ and ICAM‐I.

     

Variable temperature STM study of Co deposition on a dodecanethiol self assembled monolayer

The present scanning tunneling microscopy study reports on the growth processes of Co vapor-deposited on a dodecanethiol (DDT) self-assembled monolayer (SAM)/Au(111). We observe strongly modified surface and depth diffusions of Co adatoms depending on the growth temperature. Co deposited at 300 K shows an extremely incomplete regime of condensation on the organic layer. Besides, Co penetrates the DDT monolayer and resides at the DDT/Au(111) interface as 2D clusters. This phenomenon takes place through defects in the SAM which are transient channels. In contrast, Co deposited at 50 K shows a complete condensation and nucleates on defects of the SAM layer as 3D islands sitting most likely on top of the DDTs. These results are of interest in the growing field of organic spintronics where the quality of the organic/ferromagnetic interface is a key issue.